bounce around

bounce around

1. Of an object, to move erratically with repeated hops into the air. The rubber ball bounced around before finally rolling into the wall.

2. Of a person, to move or change between several different things, such as jobs or places. Well, since I graduated from school, I've just been bouncing around, working any job I can get.That player has bounced around a lot in his short career—in three years, he's already been on five teams!

3. To discuss something with other people by mentioning it informally, in passing, or at various times. In this usage, a noun can come between "bounce" and "around." I bounced around the idea of becoming an actress with many people before discussing it with my parents.Hey, let's bounce your idea around the office to see if anyone wants to join our team.

bounce around

1. Move around from one person or place to another. For example, The staff spent the morning bouncing around ideas to improve sales, or She had been bouncing around from one job to another. This term alludes to a ball bouncing among players. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

2. Treat roughly or unfairly, as in Quit bouncing me around; I won't stand for it. This usage is based on a somewhat earlier meaning of bounce, "to beat up" or "coerce." ] Slang; c. 1970]

Listening to yourself sing is like crawling into a grand piano, closing the lid, and then hearing the sounds bounce around inside the box," says Ingo Titze, professor of speech science and voice at the University of Iowa.

While most light waves that penetrate the tissue just bounce around wildly inside, a few travel in largely unimpeded, hit some internal structure, and then reflect straight back out again," Nolte says.

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